Have I found my style?

“Don’t try to be an artist. Find the thing within you that needs to be expressed. You might find it is art.” – Duane Michals.

A common question among artists is “how do I find my style?” This question comes up frequently during any photography workshops I have attended over the years. I sometimes find myself questioning if I am making any progress when there is no obvious distinction with its aesthetics. I have self-doubts about my work being valid when I feel I am perhaps stuck in the copycat phase of being a beginner. My frustration grows when “finding my style” seems to be this elusive goal that is beyond my reach.

Is finding one’s style the holy grail as we like to believe? Consistency in style obviously makes one’s work more recognizable and more appealing to one’s audience, especially to those who prefer the artists they follow having one. But can it become a limiting factor when it sets the boundary as what an artist can do with the medium? Lately as I take a holistic look at the different bodies of work I created over the years, I notice how much I have changed as a person, and those changes are being reflected in the different photos I made; hence I cannot put down a check mark on the “I have found my style” box. With that said, I can see the different threads that run through the work. They reflect my ever-changing sensibilities, my continuously growing skill set, the tools I use, the subjects that speak to me, and my intention as a photographer.

By taking time to reflect on what I have accomplished, I see attaining a personal style is not to be confused as a skill to be mastered, instead it is something that organically grows out of one’s work being made over a long period of time. Instead of seeing having a personal style as an end goal, it should be viewed as an evolving process. Although I value consistency in my work, especially when it comes to the quality of my output. I also hope my work doesn’t stagnate. If my style remains constant for too long, it can indicate my reluctance of taking any risks creatively, and I have been staying in my comfort zone for too long. If my work truly reflects who I am as a person, it should evolve and grow accordingly. Staying with a fixed aesthetics or adhering to the self-imposed dogma for the sake of consistency will likely reveal a person who has not changed over time, which should not be regarded as a good sign for anyone who is in the creative field. There is so much I am doing nowadays that I cannot imagine myself doing during my youth. I am more open to different creative ideas and being bolder in speaking out for what I believe in nowadays, those qualities should be reflected in my work.

There is the possibility of making and adhering to a visual look that make one’s work stands out from the crowd. By sticking to the formulaic and gain recognition for it, we run the risk of not taking the continuous journey of exploration to see just how far we can push ourselves creatively. I therefore no longer care to find my style. Instead of settling for predictable aesthetics—those inherent in the subject or produced by sticking to post processing formulas that aim to create consistent appearance to my photographs, I care more about finding ways to nurture myself as an artist, finding different avenues to broaden my horizon as a person, living my life in the most meaningful way I can. I try to make work that express what is important and interesting to me as a person, the things that shape my personality and I hold dear at any given point of time which will never be a fixed quality if I am to continue to grow as an artist. By living an enriched life and speak openly about what I am passionate about, I am confident my artistic voice will rise organically as an expression that differentiates me as an artist.